Whether you know anything about it, Sin City just sounds like a place a person should visit at least once in a lifetime. And it is. But if you’d rather not drop a grand on a trip to Las Vegas right now, look south for your next gaming getaway. Atlantic City is an effortless and affordable car-free escape, and who doesn’t love a city by the sea?
Here, five things Atlantic City has that you won’t find in Las Vegas.
1. An Easy Breezy Budget-Friendly Escape
Skip the pricey plane ticket and the hassles of flying. Atlantic City is easily accessible by public transit, which offer roundtrip tickets from Manhattan for as low as $30. And with quality hotel packages starting at $69 per night, including food, entertainment, and waterfront views, we say it’s a sin not to go to AC.
2. The Boardwalk
Before a day of play, enjoy a peaceful morning stroll along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, dating back to 1870 and considered to be the grandfather of boardwalks. While Las Vegas is landlocked, gridlocked and overrun with tourists, the seaside esplanade makes AC a relaxing pedestrian-friendly destination year round. You can also pick up a bike at B&K and go for a cruise along the scenic four-mile boardwalk. Rentals are $9 for the first hour and $1 for each additional 15 minutes. Open from 6:45AM- 12:00PM daily.
3. Absecon Lighthouse
Either for a great introduction or a sweeping farewell, the Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey’s tallest and the country’s third tallest, fits the bill. Fresh off a multi-million dollar restoration, the 150-year-old lighthouse offers soaring views of Atlantic City’s skyline and the Atlantic Ocean, if you’re up for scaling the spiral staircase’s 228 steps. For the maritime enthusiasts, pay a visit to the Lightkeeper’s dwellings and its history museum to learn about the structure and spectacular Fresnel Lens.
4. The Wind Farm
After adventures on the water, go gain an appreciation for it. Book a unique Environmental Tour with ACUA (Atlantic County Utility Authority). The ACUA offers three tours, including visits to the county’s recycling center, landfill, and composting facility, but we recommend the Wastewater Facility Tour & Wind and Solar Projects. It may sound a little field trippy, but trust us, it’s worth a look. Lasting about an hour, you’ll visit the green-roofed ACUA Wastewater Treatment Facility, which keeps the area’s marine and freshwater environments clean and clear. While Las Vegas has received failing grades from the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report, and was named by Travel + Leisure as one of America’s Dirtiest Cities, Atlantic City boasts having the world’s largest hybrid wind and solar powered treatment facility, and the first coastal and urban wind farm in the nation. And best of all, like the solar and wind energy, it’s free.
5. The Ocean
5. The OceanGet suited up to cool down with a $4 Yuengling or $5 Jack and Coke at Sammy’s Beach Bar followed by a dip in the ocean. Las Vegas may have pools and a dancing fountain but AC has surfing, sailing, dolphin watching and many more aquatic adventures for when your hands tire of rolling the dice.
Check out the offMetro Guide to Public Transit from NYC to Atlantic City for car-optional directions. Atlanticcitynj.com is also a great resource for unique activity ideas and special offers.
Photos: Absecon Lighthouse, Bally’s, PMillera4, Atlantic City Parasail
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram